You know how to operate this site just as well as I do. I'm sure you can find it. Although I must confess my confusion as to why that post would
require investigation. The point was to inform you, and now you are informed it sounds as though you are looking for clues...clues to
what?

Well, apparently they weren't too stimulating and informative because one of them just went POOF! Maybe now would be a good time for you to
start making sense and posting relevant material. Your little derailment and distraction act is getting tiresome.

This isn't about me. This is about the conversion from Catholicism to atheism and whether or not it could be considered a valid transition, a
well-advised one, a productive move, whatever. What's the pros and cons to this kind of switch? No more ad hominem, boys. This is adult time now.
Handle the discussion maturely and intelligently.

When we take out your irritation towards other posters, we're left with:

This is about the conversion from Catholicism to atheism and whether or not it could be considered a valid transition, a well-advised one, a
productive move, whatever. What's the pros and cons to this kind of switch?

My first thought is that since he converted from a nebulous
non-religion to a definite non-religion, you're question must be treated as a hypothetical. Seventy some-odd pages on a hypothetical? But, Ok.

We can condense that question even further, in my opinion. It seems you're asking "Which is better, Catholicism or Atheism, and why?"

I'm lost. You gave me two posts in response. As you noted, the first was an link to the reply function, posted by mistake.

The second post, in it's entirety, is this:

Here are some points we can discuss, in the post I am replying to.

Sorry, Haven't a clue what you mean.

With respect,
Charles1952

Hello Charles1952,

Why someone that claims to be interested in a mature and intelligent discussion, couldn't provide a direct link to satisfy your request is beyond me,
but keeping things hidden within a "smoke screen" seems to be "AfterInfinity's" default mode of operation.

This is about the conversion from Catholicism to atheism and whether or not it could be considered a valid transition, a well-advised one, a
productive move, whatever. What's the pros and cons to this kind of switch?

These are the points that I am offering to discuss, as a place to start. I didn't say these are the only points I am willing to discuss.

He isn't going to persuade me, and if I'm lucky, it will take me a couple of hundred pages to persuade him.

Oh, I hope that's not what he meant. If so, if that's really what he wanted all along, this whole thread is a waste from Page 2 on.

I'm sorry you feel that way. I've never called your threads a waste, I've never called any of your posts a waste, so I'm a little disappointed that
you can't find any use for this thread and its contents. Are you sure this hasn't been anything of a learning experience for you at all? I'm not sure
that reflects on me as much as it reflects on you.

Boredom is more a reflection of the person than the situation... I'm sure the same thing can be said about "wasting time". No one forced you to
come here. No one forced you to stay. And I'm sure if you open up a little, you'll find that you learned a thing or two here...not from me, perhaps,
but from the general participants of this thread.

As long as someone walked away with a better understanding or an inclination to improve their understanding as a result of this thread, I consider it
a success.

Why someone that claims to be interested in a mature and intelligent discussion, couldn't provide a direct link to satisfy your request is
beyond me, but keeping things hidden within a "smoke screen" seems to be "AfterInfinity's" default mode of operation.

I was on my phone at the time. As I explained quite explicitly. I would hazard a suggestion that you begin to read more closely and think before
jumping to assumptions. Your posts in this thread give the impression that you pick the first thought to occur when reading a post, set it in
concrete, and continue your operations under the assumption that your growing series of first impressions is absolutely flawless.

I don't regret making this thread. I regret posting it to a conspiracy forum where the primary principle of interactivity is question first, doubt
later, and debunk at the finish line. The journey is not to find truth, but to prove there is no truth to begin with.

AnthonyCooper and I are satisfied, for the time being, with the conclusions we have reached regarding the existence of a deity (or lack thereof). It's
obvious that no one here appreciates the process by which we arrived at those conclusions, and it's clear that you are more interested in proving we
are idiots for having done so than learning why we felt it a necessary position to take. I am not here for your approval. I am not here for your
belief. I am here, in this thread I have made, to memorialize a pivotal change in the perspective of an individual I am attached to. Among other
things, I was eager to contribute my own experience for the benefit of those who were curious of uncertain as to their own positions. Perhaps I would
convince someone or further someone's beliefs in the complete opposite of my own. Either way, I helped to make a slight difference in someone's life.
I helped to further cement the happiness and productivity, the convictions and trajectories, of one or more people out there in the world. As long as
I inspired someone in some fashion, I could count this thread a success.

Quite frankly, with that being said, I was interesting in receiving somewhat deeper feedback than what I have encountered here, but I confess myself
disappointed in finding that the majority of forthcoming responses are completely off the point and non-constructive. Apparently, the spilled milk
proves the neighbor killed the goldfish. Why? Because aliens.

That's exactly what MY first impression is. And you know what? I'm sticking to it. Thank you, good day, and good luck. And may whatever deities you
cherish be with you.

So where are we at? You suggested I look at your reply, and I did. I simplified (over-simplified?) the question there to "Which is better
Catholicism or Atheism." If that's wrong, correct me.

anthonycooper did not change from Catholic to Atheist, so discussing his particular case is of less interest, theologically. I'm sure it's a
gripping saga for him and for his guide, but it's too specific to that one case to allow for much discussion.

You've mentioned other ideas to discuss. I seem to remember a character in a movie who said "Throw me a bone." That's all I want. Give me a few
topics, let me pick one and we're off. But there's not much to work with right now.

So where are we at? You suggested I look at your reply, and I did. I simplified (over-simplified?) the question there to "Which is better
Catholicism or Atheism." If that's wrong, correct me.

If people feel I am wrong, then tell me why. And try to sound smart about it. That's all I'm asking.

anthonycooper did not change from Catholic to Atheist, so discussing his particular case is of less interest, theologically. I'm sure it's a
gripping saga for him and for his guide, but it's too specific to that one case to allow for much discussion.

Catholicism is a farce to begin with. It's another word for "I attend mass every Sunday". It doesn't take much to be a Catholic, and even less to
pretend to be one. And nobody cares about the difference. He was Catholic in the sense that everyone claims to be Catholic - they were born and raised
and never bothered to read up on anything else. Except he was curious and did some exploring, which began to erode the foundations of his beliefs. Not
to mention being gay sort of took the best parts out of the equation. But he didn't have a better answer, so he stuck with it until I gave him one he
liked more.

You've mentioned other ideas to discuss. I seem to remember a character in a movie who said "Throw me a bone." That's all I want. Give me a
few topics, let me pick one and we're off. But there's not much to work with right now.

I just gave you a whole bunch. The problem isn't a lack of ideas, it's a lack of thought. The more you think, the more connections you make.

I'm confused again. I thought you said you wanted a discussion, where did I go wrong?

Good. I'd hate to think I'm stuck with a boring audience.

If people feel I am wrong, then tell me why. And try to sound smart about it.

Catholicism is a farce to begin with. It's another word for "I attend mass every Sunday". It doesn't take much to be a Catholic, and even
less to pretend to be one. And nobody cares about the difference. He was Catholic in the sense that everyone claims to be Catholic - they were born
and raised and never bothered to read up on anything else.

I just gave you a whole bunch. The problem isn't a lack of ideas, it's a lack of thought.

AfterInfinity, fruitful discussions rarely occur when they open with insults and lies. I'd ask for an apology, but one, it would be fruitless, and
two, I would only ask for one from a man of honor. I would, however, accept one from you freely given.

AfterInfinity, fruitful discussions rarely occur when they open with insults and lies. I'd ask for an apology, but one, it would be fruitless,
and two, I would only ask for one from a man of honor. I would, however, accept one from you freely given.

Nor do they tend to proceed well with groundless accusations. I don't generally apologize without knowing what exactly I am apologizing for. But
perhaps that's a matter better suited for personal messaging, lest this thread be thrown off topic...further than it's already gone. I only just
managed to steer it back onto course, with your much appreciated help; I'd hate for such effort to be wasted.

It's been pointed out numerous times that there is more attacked and "defaming" going on than actual conversation and debate, so I hope you'll forgive
me if I am a little on edge at this point. I have no patience for further dramatics, and I have no intention of humoring maneuvers to that end.

It seems you have no interest in discussing the finer points of Catholicism, in contrast to the freedoms that atheism can provide. I thought
presenting the topic in my previous post was a bold enough invitation, but perhaps you're reluctant.

I would only ask for one from a man of honor.

There is no honor on this site. What use is there for honor here? None. We wear masks. We trade in speculation, lies, and rumors. Half the time, we
dig so deep that we can no longer find our way out, only to discover the truth is in another castle. Honor doesn't exist in a place where people go by
code names and invent new identities every day.

There is no honor here. There is only confusion and desperation. So your barbs concerning my honor are as fruitless as a priest chiding a politician.
We work in the dark. We feed from the dark. I'm here on the off-chance that perhaps the children of the shadows know something I don't, can offer a
perspective I haven't considered, might be hoarding some small piece of the puzzle. And maybe, just maybe, I can help someone feel better about the
shadows they're crawling in.

Your honor means nothing to me because this is the internet. Honor. What a joke. I could break a thousand promises and come back with a new name and a
new face and a new promise and I would be "honorable" because no one knows who anyone else is.

Anyway, that's enough about honor. Shall we get back to the actual topic? Like I said, there's plenty to discuss if you have the eyes to examine.

Your posts in this thread give the impression that you pick the first thought to occur when reading a post, set it in concrete, and continue
your operations under the assumption that your growing series of first impressions is absolutely flawless.

All that I have done, is to allow you to prove that my "first impression" was "absolutely flawless". You've done that well!

I regret posting it to a conspiracy forum where the primary principle of interactivity is question first, doubt later, and debunk at the finish
line.

I can certainly understand your regret. If you had posted your OP on a atheist forum, I have no doubt that you would have recieved the "worship"
that you, so obviously, crave.

The journey is not to find truth, but to prove there is no truth to begin with.

You're not on a journey "to find truth". If you were, you wouldn't have been so dismissive of the many questions that you refused to answer. As it
is, you have only been seeking praise.

It's obvious that no one here appreciates the process by which we arrived at those conclusions

We've also been telling you why, but you're too damn proud of yourself to listen.

I am not here for your approval. I am not here for your belief. I am here, in this thread I have made, to memorialize a pivotal change in the
perspective of an individual I am attached to. Among other things, I was eager to contribute my own experience for the benefit of those who were
curious of uncertain as to their own positions. Perhaps I would convince someone or further someone's beliefs in the complete opposite of my own.
Either way, I helped to make a slight difference in someone's life. I helped to further cement the happiness and productivity, the convictions and
trajectories, of one or more people out there in the world. As long as I inspired someone in some fashion, I could count this thread a
success.

All that I have done, is to allow you to prove that my "first impression" was "absolutely flawless". You've done that well!

Would you state for the audience exactly what your first impression was?

I can certainly understand your regret. If you had posted your OP on a atheist forum, I have no doubt that you would have recieved the
"worship" that you, so obviously, crave.

For someone who has never met me in person, you have an awful lot to say about me. It's almost like you think you know me. For the record, I despise
worship. I have said as much many times.

You're not on a journey "to find truth". If you were, you wouldn't have been so dismissive of the many questions that you refused to
answer. As it is, you have only been seeking praise.

No, you've been dismissive of my answers. What questions have I failed to answer? Line them up for me.

We've also been telling you why, but you're too damn proud of yourself to listen.

You don't have a reason to state why. You're more concerned with proving me a fraud than anything else.

Yep! It's got to be ALL ABOUT YOU, doesn't it?

Well, I did start the thread. And I am a key player in the event this thread covers. So it kinda makes sense that a large portion of the actual debate
would stem from myself and my friend, would it not? And since he's busy doing other things, it falls to me to "defend" the position as stated in
the OP.

This content community relies on user-generated content from our member contributors. The opinions of our members are not those of site ownership who maintains strict editorial agnosticism and simply provides a collaborative venue for free expression.